exxii Proceedings. 
horse-shoe is considered a lucky symbol, and it was thought that 
its origin could be traced to the crescent. Feathers worn as 
plumes were originally charms. It is still common in some 
districts to have what are known as thunder-bolts in the house 
as a protection from lightning. Iron pyrites, belemnites, stone 
celts, flint arrowheads, encrinite stems, and ammonites are 
among the objects so designated. Beads were also charms, and 
stones with natural perforations were hung at the bed’s head as 
a protection from nightmare. The lecture was illustrated by a ~ 
large collection of rare and curious examples, and was listened 
to with much pleasure by a large audience. A discussion 
followed in which Dr. Parsons, Mr. Robarts, Mr. Slack, and 
the President took part. In connection with this subject the 
President exhibited some ordeal beans from West Africa, and a 
specimen of the Amphisbena from South America. 
Mr. Slack exhibited some gold ore, and also an agate with 
concentric markings. 
April 28th.—The President read a paper on “‘ Some Forms of 
Silica” (Trans., Art. 130). Messrs. Berney, Hinde, Moore, 
' Robarts, and the President exhibited beautiful specimens in 
illustration of the paper. 
Mr. Straker exhibited some medizval shoes with pointed toes 
found in an excavation near the old Carmelite Monastery at 
Whitefriars; also an earthenware pilgrim’s bottle in perfect 
condition, and bones of the horse, wild boar, fallow deer, sheep, 
and oxen from the same spot. 
May 12th.—In lieu of the ordinary meeting, a party of 
members and friends, to the number of forty, paid a visit to the 
gas works at Waddon, on the invitation of Mr. J. W. Helps, 
who kindly showed the party round the works, and thoroughly 
explained the process of manufacture. Great interest was taken 
in the operation of clearing and recharging the retorts, in which 
the coal is subjected to destructive distillation. These retorts 
are twenty feet long, with openings at each end, and are charged 
with six ewt. of coal every six hours. Two systems of heating 
them are at present in use, but the improved or regenerative 
system is being more extensively adopted. The consumption of 
fuel by this method is reduced from twenty-five per cent. to 
eleven or twelve per cent. After a prolonged inspection of the 
various processes for the purification of the gas, the party 
adjourned to the club-room, where they were most hospitably 
entertained with light refreshments by Mr. Helps, who afterwards 
gave a short account of the manufacture of illuminating gas, 
illustrating his lecture by means of diagrams and drawings. 
The construction of the new gasometer, capable of holding thiee 
